A library's lack of luster

Last nights writing group session was, in the very least, inspirational, hilarious, and moving. Margaret's exercise 'write in a location that you do not ordinarily write' proved to take us all down similar paths. Extrordinarily the bulk of us felt that our choices were limited to the library, a coffee shop, or the airport. Must be the time of year. We all had one thing in common; the library is not a very stimulating location, although Nola did do a great job in there.

New member Joanne joined us and fit right in. The group was missing a few, but the night was great. Everyone's writing seems to be coming along. More definitive style, a knowledge of what to ask and most importantly more critiques.
Great work everyone. The next meeting is Tuesday March 2. Our facilitator will be Christine and here is her assignment:
Write approximately 500-1000 words (or as Joanne says: when it's over you're done) about your cooking experience with a focus on thoughts, feelings, and where it takes you. For example, where does your train of thought go when you're chopping a carrot?
In the meantime I challenge anyone out there in blog-land to post something!
If you're still intimidated by blogging check out the BLOGGER TOUR or after you sign in to Blogger choose New Post and follow the directions in this video...

How To Create Your First Blog Post 3/118 - Funny bloopers R us
You could post a link to a great article or website or video. Maybe a poem or piece you've been working on or just your thoughts and frustrations and accomplishments. Would love to see more interaction on here from all directions.
Let's inspire!

Inspiration, where art thou?

I'm not sure if anyone else is having difficulty with tomorrow's writing task. At least one part is done. I'm left with no more options of 'where' I will write as I am at work until we meet. Unless, of course, I decide to write in my car or camp next to Mark Creek tonight for an evening of prose; probably not though.
So the location part is figured out, now all I need to do is see what I will write, but more importantly 'what about' I will write.
I've been jotting a few lines here and there and nothing has materialized. So here's my question to you; how do you get inspired? What do you do when the ideas just aren't flowing?

The darker side of us

Last night we switched focus a bit and each wrote a short story/poem/portion-of-a-larger-project around 1000 words. Everyone seems to have a unique style and it's such a pleasure to listen and bounce ideas around.

Welcome new members Alison, Christine, and David! Great job facilitating Nola- hopefully we can all work on character development as the session go on.

Next Session - Tuesday February 16th Margaret will be our faciltator and the assigment is:

A creative piece between 500 and 1000 words written in a place that you do not ordinarily write.

Shorty

I'm stumped. I have a character in mind for our short story deadline. I have a character and a scene. Now what?

In frustration I googled "how to write a short story". I figured this would send me down a half hour path in search of good information. Little did I know that the information I would stumble upon would take me less than thrity seconds to find... so here it is (possibly channeled by Confucius).

1. Put a man up a tree
2. Throw stones at him
3. Get him down

For more info, here's the source. Write101.com

Coffee Shop Writing Contest

http://ferniewriters.org/Check out the links below for the latest in writing contests and conferences.


The contest is associated with our Fernie Neighbours and the "Fernie Writers Conference" which will be taking place July 18-25 2010. (Not sure if their website is updated).

 Click here for more info on the COFFEE SHOP AUTHOR contest.

Click here for more info on the FERNIE WRITERS conference.

If anyone is thinking of doing this be sure to share with the rest of us moral support/car pools will be in order.

'C' Words, Therapy, and Newbies

Meeting Round Up Tuesday Janaury 19 2010

So great meeting last night! Welcome back Meaghan and welcome newbies Mike and Don. Everyone was so keen we will now be meeting every two weeks. Next meeting - Tuesday February 2, 2010 - same time, same place.
Nola will be our facilitator next week and she has asked that we do the following.

• Bring a short story 1000 words or less
• Emphasis is to be on character

 Look forward to many more meetings with this group and think that I'm in good company when I say "Bring on the critique!". I look forward to manicuring my ideas in the meetings to come and am always entertained by what you've written.

Thanks, and thanks Susan for doing such a great job facilitating last night. Loved the 100 word sentence exercise.

January Group Meeting

The next group meeting will be

TUESDAY JANUARY 19TH
7-9 @ Centre 64 (upstairs meeting room)

Please bring

• An excerpt that inspires you to share with the group
• A piece that you're working on
• Writing utensils of choice

See you there!